"I’d be interested in any feedback from Labour lefties on this one. It’s early days yet, but how is the campaign going? What are the plans for the conference season?"
Not sure there is much going on yet. I volunteered to help out . So far locally that involves helping organise a meeting in Brighton to coincide with the TUC conference (so not really a local event as such).
No great upsurges of enthusiasm on the left so far .
I wish I could be less negative but the only thing to recommend McDonnell's campaign is that it serves as small reminder of the need for a proper leadership contest (which John is unlikely to get enough MPs' backing to be a part of). A "coronation" would be a disgrace, especially at a time when the need for the nation to enthuse about the virtues of vigorous debate in a thriving democracy is very great.
Otherwise I'm afraid my response to John's candidacy is that it's going nowhere. It will appeal to a small number Labour(ish) Lefties who are still grumbling about the ditching of Clause 4 and whose main reason for being in politics is to grumble about such things. Even if John did become leader he would get thrashed at an election and, if we're honest, we all know it.
OK. Now I've been unkind allow me to make a fool of myself. I don't pretend to be an expert on policy. But I have just - quite literally - written a list of ideas on the back of an envelope. The thinking behind them is that they are firmly left-of-centre yet also reasonably in keeping with public opinion in general and designed to appeal to a significant body of disillusioned "natural" Labour voters. They are very far from fully-formed. But here they are anyway.
1. Reassert the values of democracy, free-speech, fair play, personal liberty and tolerance/social diversity. But do NOT link these to national identity (not unless you want to piss off half the people you need to appeal to)
2. Promise a referendum on Prop. Representation. Our democracy is dying of disinterest. We need to revive it. This would also be a "one nation" kind of ploy.
3. Promise to end the "special relationship" with the USA until it elects a president with a saner and more practical foreign policy agenda.
4. Take the poorest in society out of income tax altogether. Steal the Lib Dems "green taxes" idea to make up the shortfall.
5. Simplify the benefits system. Gordon's creations are too complicated.
6. Propose a couple of - genuinely popular - renationalisations. I suggest the railways (big) and directory inquiries (small, but symbolic)
7. In education, slash the secondary school curriculum so that only three subjects are compulsory: maths, English and History - a History that lays great stress on Britain's past and its relationships with the wider world, especially the nations of the Empire. But it would NOT be what the right call "traditional" history. It would be taught in a manner that encouraged critical an constructive debate. All this would be consistent with a central goal of helping children to find out what they're good at and to do it well, whether that's chemistry or car maintenance. Schools would become more flexible, relevent and devoted to helping young people become good and happy citizens, not passive generators of exam results.
8. Immigration: Still working on that one...!
9. Iraq, Afghanistan. Ditto. I was against the Iraq war and sti
Oops. Did I run out of space? Allow me to complete.
...I was against the Iraq war and still am. Sadly, the ethics and possible outcomes of withdrawing at this stage seem to me extremely hard to judge. But I'm working on it.
OK, that's it. Go on. Tear me apart!
I'm probably not typical but when I heard that John was going to stand for the leadership, I joined the Labour Party. I've never been a member in this country although I was a member of the NZLP many years ago.
I was having a discussion about this with some left friends recently who argued there was nothing left to support in the LP and I was wasting my time. I can almost agree but I see this battle - whether or not John evens gets enough MP support to officially challenge - as the last ditch effort to salvage the LP as Britain's worker's party.
His intention to challenge for the leadership could end up in revitalising debate in the CLPs - or not. But i felt I had to take the chance.
Hey Stroppybird
Tell us the details of the Brighton meeting cos I'll be there on the RMT delegation. Should be able to get them all along so long as it doesn't clash with anything else important like the delegation booze- and nosh-up.
I have to say that as much as I admire John and his campaign I know it won't stand much of a chance...As DH points out, even if he did become leader (unlikely) he wouldn't win at the polls.
But I'm of the view that it's a little late to rescue or reclaim the Labour Party, I support campaigning for proportional representation (as this is the only way the left will get anywhere in elections) along with the creation of a new left wing party.
First let me say 'Forza Sandra' - as Labour Party membership collapses there is a genuine rationale for those on the left to rejoin (or just join).
It may be a crock of shit but its the only crock that feels like it could or should be 'ours'.
The difficulty of course is tha with local party democracy so firmly circumscribed you'd need the discipline of the late Ted's lot with bells on to stand a chance of genuinely making any impact... though, as the doldrums of lost office approach and the party collapses toward bankruptcy as its new friends revert to more familiar and bluer pastures, it may be that opportunities will present themselves.
Much like its naive ministers (cf Blind Lemon Blunkett) Labour needs to learn who its friends are and whose interests will always be represented by those whose natural territory is power and property.
But, hey, call me mired in class politics and the notion that the working class can be radicalised and politically educated rather than merely controlled and bought off, diod someone mention a progressive alliance...
Janine
When I have details I'll put them up on my blog.
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